Method and apparatus for cooling produce by alternate dipping and draining



p g magi O3 N; qt-Q w a? k? j Nov. 23, 1948. F. J. McMlCHAEL 2,454,706

v us'rnon AND APPARATUS FOR 000mm PRODUCE By ALTERNATE DIPPING AND mummeFiled Nov. 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 1 Nov. 23, 1948. F. J. M MICHAEL2,454,706

- METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING PRODUCE I BY ALTERNATE DIPPING ANDDRAINING F11ed Nov; 9, 1944 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 9 rfi lag 46 Patented Nov.23, .1948

METHOD AND APPARATUS FOR COOLING PRODUCE BY ALTERNATE DIPPING ANDDRAINING Floyd J. McMichacl, Orlando, Fla.

Application November 9, 1944, Serial No. 562,637 1 Claims. (c1. 62-104)This invention relates to an improved method and apparatus forprocessing produce, being a variation of the invention disclosed in my00.- pending application flied October 2, 1944, Serial No. 556,843. 7

In accordance with the invention disclosed in my co-pending applicationmentioned, packages of produce are fed to a conveyor which functions toalternately raise and lower the packages for repeatedly dipping thepackages into a refrigerant and intermediately draining the packages,the object being to cause the refrigerant to repetitiously flow into andout of the packages so that the volume of liquid more or less trapped bythe produce in the central portion of each package and thus, for suchreason, subjected to a.prnounced warming by the produce, will bepositively replacedmany times by fresh, cold refrigerant, to the endthat the produce at the central portion of the package will be chilledwith equal efficiency and effectiveness as the outer courses of produceof the package with resultant thorough and uniform chilling of theproduce throughout the package. I An object of the present invention isto attain the same result, as foregoing, but instead of raising andlowering the packages individually, the

packages are raised simultaneously and likewise lowered simultaneouslyto effect the repeated dipping and draining thereof.

A further object of the invention is to provide a method and drainingconveyor will carry the packages forwardly on a floating frame, whereinthe forward movement of the packages relative to the frame will occur insubstantially a level path parallel to the frame, and wherein the framewill be raised and loweredto cause the repeated'dipping and draining ofthe packages.

Another object of the invention is to provide a method and apparatuswherein the floating frame of the dipping and draining conveyor will becaused to travel in a circular path to effect the repeated dipping anddraining of the packages.

And a still further obiectof the invention is to provide a method andapparatus wherein the packages of produce will be fed to the dipping anddraining conveyor to be automatically picked up thereby and carriedforwardly to be subjected to the dipping and draining operations, whenthe packages will be automatically released and carried off. i 1

Other and incidental objects of the invention will appear during thecourse of the following description, and in the drawings:

'toward the driven end of the dipping and draining conveyor.

Figure 5 is a transverse vertical section particularly showing therefrigerating tank.-

Figure 6 is a detail section on the line 6-6 of Figure 1.

Figure 7 is a transverse section on the line 1-4 of Figure 6.

Figure 8 is a detail section on the line 8-8 of t Figure 4.

' Referring now more particularly to the drawings, I employ a feedconveyor, indicated as a whole at Ill, and a discharge conveyor,indicated as a whole at H, these conveyors'corresponding to like feedand discharge conveyors disclosed in my prior application previouslyidentified. As

' best seen in Figure 4 of the drawings, the conveyor apparatus whereina dippingand 4 I0 is provided at its forward end with a drive shaft I!for the belt 13 of said conveyor, and fixed to the belt at regularlyspaced intervals are pairs of lugs [4. The construction of the conveyoris otherwise unimportant. The conveyor Il may be conventional and thebelt I5 thereof is driven by a. suitable motor l6.

Arranged at the adjacent ends of the conveyors l0 and I I is arefrigerating unit identical with the refrigerating unit disclosed in myprior application noted. This unit includes a tank I1 adapted to containa refrigerant l8, preferably water, and mounted in the tank near theside walls thereof are partitions lildeflning channels 20, thepartitions being formed at corresponding ends thereof, as seen in Figure2, with notches 2| providing inlets for'said channels and, at their oppsite correspond ing'ends, terminating short of the adjacent end wall ofthe tank to provide outlets 22 for Q said channels.-

Mounted upon the tank I! at the notches 2| of the partitions 19 aresuitable motor-driven agitators 23 having blades 24 for circulating therefrigerant 18 through the channels 20, and mounted in said channels arerefrigerating coils 25 to which are connected, as seen in Figure 1,suitable supply and return pipes 26 so that an appropriate refrigeratingmedium may be circulated through the coils by a suitable compressor, inot shown. However, it shouldjbe noted that the compressor will be of acapacity to chill the coils, as desired.

well as with the tank i1 is a dipping and draining 5 conveyor, indicatedas a whole at 21. This conveyor is identical in many respects with thedipping and draining conveyor disclosed in my prior applicationmentioned and, accordingly, only such description is required in thepresent instance as will bring out the differences between the two.

Mounted at opposite sides of the tank II are posts 28 provided at theirupper ends, as perhaps best seen in Figures 1 and 5 of the drawings,

with bearing yokes 29, and journaled through said yokes are parallelworm shafts 30 upon which are fixed worms 3| disposed between the sideportions of the yokes. Arranged upon the posts near the upper endsthereof are framecarrying wheels 32 disposed at the inner sides so ofthe posts. In the present instance, I have shown a group of threealigned wheels at each side of the tank thereabove but, of course, thenumber of wheels in each group may be varied. The wheels 32 areprovided, as best seen in Figure 5, with shafts 33 which are journaledthrough the posts, and fixed to the outer ends of said shafts are wormgears 34 meshing with the worms 3|. Thus, when the shafts 30 arerotated, the wheels 32 will be revolved.

- 8 Supported by the wheels 32 above the tank I1 is an oblong, floatingframe 35 having parallel side and end bars respectively, and bracing theframe are spaced cross bars 36. Bolted or otherwise fixed to the sidebars of the frame are 35 brackets 31 and, as particularly seen in Figure5 0f the drawings, these brackets are formed with pins 38 which arejournaled through the wheels 32 eccentrically thereof. Thus, when thewheels are revolved, the frame will be caused to travel 40 in a circularpath and, as shall presently appear, the frame will accordingly providea floating carriage for the parts mounted thereon.

As will be observed, the frame 35 is of a length to extend over theadjacent end portions of the conveyors Ill and II, and suspended belowthe frame is a chain track 39 preferably I-shaped in cross section. Thistrack is provided with parallel side portions connected, as bestseen ina Figure 1, by arcuate end ortions 40, and engaged with the cross bars36 of the frame 35 are hangers 4| supporting the track.

Mounted at the forward end of the frame I is a vertical drive shaft 42to the lower end portion of which is fixed a drive sprocket l3, and,

mounted at the rear end of the frame is a like aligned vertical shaft 44to the lower end portion of which is fixed an idler sprocket 46 on alevel with the drive sprocket. The shafts l2 and 44 are respectivelydisposed centrally of the correg0 sponding arcuate end portion Ml of thechain track 39, and trained about said sprockets is a drive chain 46.This chain is identical with the like drive chain disclosed in my priorapplication mentioned and includes spaced carrier links I 6 from whichrise yokes 48 straddling the chain track, and journaled upon said yokesare rollers 49 mounted to travel upon the side portions of the bottomflange of the track for supporting the drive chain.

Associated with the drive chain 46 is anumber of package carriers,indicated as. a whole at II. Each of these carriers includes an angleplate I which is...;boited or otherwise detachably fixed to one of thecarrier links 41 of the chain, and 7 projecting from said plate is astud 82. Pivoted upon said stud is a rod 32, and pivotally'connected tothe lower end of said rod is a package holder,-indicated as a whole atIt.

The package holders it are identical with the package holders disclosedin my prior application previously identified and operate in likemanner. A lengthy description ofvsaid holders herein is thereforeunnecessary. However, it may be noted that each of said holders includesa head it upon whichis pivoted a pair of coacting jaws 56 having bottomplates 31 to engage beneath the ends of a package. and normally holdingthe jaws open is a spring ll. Pivotally connected with the upper ends ofthe jaws I. are coacting toggle bars ll, the inner ends of which areadapted to gravitate downwardly as the jaws are closed for looking thejaws in closed position. inward pressure is exerted on the lower ends ofthe jaws to swing the jaws toward each other about the ends of apackage, the toggle bars will serve to automatically lock the jawsclosed in engagement with the package. The package may then be picked upand carried by the holder. The outer ends of the toggle bars 59 projectlaterally beyond the head 5! and, as will be perceived, downwardpressure upon said ends of the bars will serve to swing the inner endsthereof upwardly and release the jaws 56, when the spring 0 ill willswing the jaws to open position and release the package.

Mounted upon the forward end portion of the frame 35 is a gear box Illcontaining conventional reduction gears, and mounted upon the box, orotherwise suitably located, is a motor ll. Projecting from the box is atransverse shaft 62, and extending at a right angle to the shaft 32 is alongitudinal shaft 33, both of said shafts being driven by the motor Oibut at a reduced speed as compared with the speed of the drive shaft ofthe motor. Fixed to the ends of the shaft l2 are gears 84, and fixed tothe side bars of the frame 3! are brackets BI which journal telescopicshafts 33 having gears 31 thereon to mesh with 45 the gears 34.Interposed in the shafts it near the brackets l are conventionaluniversal joints 33, and connecting said shafts with the worm shafts IIIare like conventional universal joints I. As brought out in Figures 6and 7 of the drawings, the shafts 03 are each formed of slide,- blymating sections II and II respectively so that, as will be seen, theshafts may lengthen and shorten in conjunction with the movement of theuniversal joints Cl and 33 to accommodate the circular travel of theframe 35. Accordingly, as will also be seen. an operative connectionbetween the shaft 02 and the worm shafts 30 is provided so that when themotor II is in operation, the worm shafts will be driven to impartcircular travel to the frame 35, as previously described.

Mounted upon the rear end of the shaft 33 is a gear 12 meshing with agear I3 upon the upper end of the sprocket shaft 42 for driving thechain 43, and mounted upon the forward end of the shaft 33 is a gear 14meshing with a gear ll upon the upper end of a vertical, telescopicshaft ll, the lower end portion of which, as seen in Figure 4,0! thedrawings, is journaled by a bracket I'lassociated with the shaft l2 ofthe feed conveyor ll. Fixed tothe lower end of the shaft I3 is a gear"meshing with a gear." on the adjacent end of said conveyor shaft. Asbrought out in Figure 8, the shaft II is formed 5 of slidably matingsections II and fl respectively,

Thus, when means for site the bottom wardly, with the result 1 tion, itwill be seen that the chain 46 will be driven for moving the packageholders around the track 39 in substantially a level path parallel tothe track while, at the same time, circular travel will be imparted tothe frame I! for rule ing and lowering said holders. the belt It ofthefeed conveyor actuated so that all of the parts in synchronizedunison. As it is unnecessary that the discharge conveyor ll be drivenexactly in time with the-other parts mentioned, the motor it is providedtherefor.

As is well known. vegetables and other produce are packagedin' boxes,crates, bags, and the like and, accordingly, the term "package as usedherein shall be construed to cover any such container. In the drawings,I have typically shown the packages at $3.

In practice, the packages as are manually placed upon the conveyor iteach in front of and abutting a pair of the lugs i4 so that the packageswill be carried forwardly in definite and uniform spaced relationcorresponding to the spacing of the package holders M along the drivechain it so that as each of said'holders arrives at a position to travelover the forward end portion of said conveyor, a package will alsoarrive at a proper position to be picked up thereby. As set forth in myprior application mentioned, I provide means for automatically engagingthe package holders 54 with the packages as well as automati'callyreleasing the holders from said packages. Both of said means areduplicated herein and the operation thereof is the same as described 'insaid prior application, as will now be outlined. l

Upstanding at opposite sides of the conveyor it near the forward endthereof, as particularly seen in Figures 1, 2 and 3 of the drawings, areposts M, and mounted on said posts are horizontal rollers 05. Theserollers are disposed oppopoint of the circular travel of the packageholders 54 and are spaced such distance apart that as the laws 58 ofsaid holders pass therebetween, the rollers will close the jaws inengagement with the ends of the packages 83, as previously outlined.Thus, as will be seen, the

coincidentally. ill will also be will be driven packages 83 will, as.they are brought forwardly by the conveyor id, be picked up and carriedalong by the dipping and draining conveyor 21.

Upstanding at opposite sides of the conveyor H in spaced relation to theforward end thereof are posts 88 upon which are mounted vertical rollers81. These rollers, like the rollers", are also disposed opposite thebottom point of the circular travel of the package holders 54 and arearranged at such a height that, as the jaws 58 of the package holderspass therebetweemthe rollers will engage the outer ends of the togglebars '59 and swing said ends of the bars downthat the inner ends. of thebars will be swung upwardly to effect release of the jaws from thepackages 83. as previously described. Thus, the packages will beautomati- 6 cally deposited-upon the discharge conveyor 'II to becarried off thereby.

As will now be seen, the packages 83 will be fed forwardly by the.conveyor ill when, upon passing between the rollers 85, said packageswill be picked up by the package holders ll of the dipping and drainingconveyor 21. The packages will then be conveyed forwardly with theirweight suspended from the frame all ofthe dipping and draining conveyor,coincident with which movement of the packages, said packages will beraised and lowered in continuing sequence by said frame to alternatelydip the packagesiinto the refrigerant l8, as shown in Figure 3, andintermediately raise the packages out of the refriserant, as shown inFigure 2, to drain.

As will be perceived, the foregoing cycle of dipping and drainingoperations will be repeated many times as the packages 83 are carriedforwardly by the dipping and draining conveyor 2'! erant, with theresult that the produce at the central portions of the packages will bechilled equally with-the outer courses of produce of the packages. Theproduce of the packages will thus be uniformly and thoroughly chilledthroughout.

After being chilled, the packages 83 will then pass between the rollers81 when, as previously described, said rollers will function to releasethe package holders 54 from'the packages so that the packages will bedeposited upon the conveyor I l to be carried off thereby. It is also tobe noted that since the rise and fall of the frame 35 of the dipping anddraining conveyor is synchronized with the forward travel of packageswill straddle the forward end wall of the tank ll, incident to theupward and downward movement of the packages, so that the tank will notinterfere with the forward travel of the packages nor will the packagescollide with said wall of the tank..

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

1. The method of treating comestibles which comprises introducing saidcomestibles into a cooling zone including a pool zone and, while theyare moving therethrough, alternately raising and lowering said pointsand thereby dipping said comestibles in said pool and raising themsufficiently from the lowest points of dipping to permit drainage ofrefrigerant therefrom.

2. The method of treating packaged comestibles which comprisesintroducing into a cooling the packages 83, the

1 7 lowest points of dipping to permit drainage of refrigeranttherefrom.

3. The method of treating packaged comestibles which comprisesintroducing into a cooling zone including a pool of liquid refrigerant agroup of packages of said comestibles each package hung from anindividual suspension point, maintaining all of said suspension pointsin substantially the same plane with each other, and moving said groupof packages through said cooling zone and, while they are movingtherethrough, alternately raising and lowering said points in continuoussequence and thereby dipping said packages in said pool and raising themsufficiently from the lowest'points of dipping to permit drainage ofrefrigerant therefrom.

4. The method of treating packaged comestibles which comprisesintroducing into a cooling zone including a pool of liquid refrigerant agroup of packages of said comestibles each package hung from anindividual suspension point, maintaining all of said suspension pointsin substantially the same plane with each other. and moving said groupof packages through said cooling zone and, while they are in transittherethrough, moving said points in circular paths to alternately raiseand lower said points and thereby dip said packages in said pool andraise them sufliclentiy from the lowest points of dipping to permitdrainage of refrigerant therefrom.

5. Apparatus for processing comestibles including a tank adapted tocontain a liquid refrigerant, a conveyor extending over the tank spacedthereabove and including a track, means for suspending a package ofcomestibles from said track, means for progressing said suspending meanswith a package thereon along the track, and means for raising andlowering the track to alternately lower and dip said package into therefrigerant and raise the package to I eluding a tank adapted drain assaid suspending means is progressed along the track.

6. Apparatus for processing comestibles into contain a liquid re.-i'rigerant, a conveyor extending over the tank spaced thereabove andincluding a track, means for suspending a package of comestibles fromsaid track, means for progressing said suspending means with a packagethereon along the track, and means for moving the track in a aircularpath to alternately lower and dip said package into the refrigerant andraise the package to drain as said suspending means is progressed alongthe track.

7. Apparatus for processing comestibles including a tank adapted tocontain a liquid refrigerant, a conveyor extending over the tank spacedthereabove and including a frame, a track carried by said frame,supporting wheels for the frame having the frame connected theretoeccentrically of said wheels, means for suspending a package ofcomestibles from said track, means for progressing said suspending meanswith a package thereon along the track, and means for rotating saidwheels and moving the frame and track in a circular path to alternatelylower and dip said package into the refrigerant and raise the package todrain as said suspending means is progressed along the track.

. FLOYD J. McMIQI-IAEL.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file ofthis patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Price May 18, 1943

